Fort Meade - USNA - Andrews AFB: December 2008

Earlier this week, you may have seen my short little post You Snooze, You Lose - No More 2008 White House Ornaments available from the White House Historic Association.    

In true ActiveRain fashion, members stepped up to the plate to help me out.  There were not many comments, but three out of the first six offered suggestions for obtaining them and two people emailed me with specific contact information. What are the odds that such a random post would be read by people familiar with these ornaments, people who may have a source for them?  Talk about quality comments! 

But there's more to this story...

PETER GACICIA, President/CEO of Friends of the White House, must have a Google alert set up for "White House Ornament" that led him to my ActiveRain post.  He emailed me to say that his organization is offering the first in a series of hand-blown glass ornaments this year.  When I clicked through to their website, this is what I found:

Isn't this stunning?

These ornaments are hand-blown glass, hand-painted with original art, historically accurate, silvered, and gift-boxed.

When I saw this, I immediately contacted Mr. Gacicia and asked for permission to display the image on ActiveRain, and he was happy to oblige.  I don't blame him... he's proud of this ornament and wants everyone to see it.

The inaugural ornament in this new collection depicts our first president, George Washington, supervising construction of the White Houses.  (How's that for a tie-in to real estate?) 

If you're as taken with this as I am, you'll want to visit Friends of the White House and see the full description of this beautiful ornament.  You might even want to order one!

Thank you, Peter Gacacia, for contacting me about this and for sending me a complimentary ornament.  It certainly won't be my last in this new collection!  (UPDATE:  It arrived today, and this ornament is exquisite... even prettier than the picture.  I am thrilled with it!)

I just hope they offer a subscription sign-up so I'll get a reminder each year when new ornaments become available.  That may be the only way to save me from myself - I don't want to miss any in this collection.

ActiveRain has brought me listings, sales, referrals, friends, knowledge (arguably even "expertise"), and now this stunning White House Christmas ornament.

Thank you!

ActiveRain has so many new members since the holidays last year, I'm betting there are lots of you who didn't see this.  Apologies to Clement Clark Moore for my parody on his "A Visit from St. Nicholas".

I'm looking forward to the day when this doesn't work because the market is "up" and not "down" -  You'll see what I mean...

'Twas the week before Christmas, and all through the town,
Not a buyer was stirring, the market was down.
Our sale sign was posted in front with care,
In hopes that some buyers soon would be there.

The children were curled up reading in bed,
And visions of moving danced in dad's head.
Now Grandma in her sweater, and pa in his cap,
Were asleep near the fire, taking a nap.

When out in the yard there arose such a clatter,
I leaped from my chair to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Pulled back the curtains and threw up the sash.

The road wasn't shoveled, there was new-fallen snow
And neighborhood children were playing below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a red SUV, full of people, right here.

With a little ol' driver, not lively or quick,
I knew in a moment it wasn't Saint Nick.
I called to the family, and everyone came,
As I whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Grandma! now, Grandpa! now Steven and Harry!
Call Susan and Tim, Elizabeth and Mary!
Buyers are coming, there's no time to spare!
Turn lights on, make beds! Pick up toys everywhere!"

As Margaret's clients came up the front walk
I was so excited I could barely talk.
The kids jumped into action, and each knew his chore,
We had to be finished, when they got to the door;

And then, in a twinkling, we left just in time
The buyers were there now, ringing the chime.
As I looked o'er my shoulder, I saw they'd arrived.
And Margaret invited them to step inside.

She was dressed all in red, from her head to her toe,
We could trust our agent, our house to show.  
For buyers today, she knew how to find
All the features they wanted, what they had in mind.

Big rooms made them happy!  The closets did, too,
They loved the new kitchen, and baths all in blue.
A big ol' smile appeared on their face,
Of the homes seen today, this might be the place!

Then quick as they came, they all disappeared,
And they might not buy, that's what I feared.
We went back inside, sat down for a meal,
We cried, then we laughed, how should we feel?
 
Margaret drove to her office, with buyers in tow,
For she knew what to do now, an experienced pro.
She sold lots of homes that were not nice as mine,
She told me herself that our home is fine.

She had not a doubt, but went straight to her work
Explained all the contracts, then turned with a jerk,
And laying her pencil aside on her desk,
Shook hands with the buyers, and wished them the best.

She sprang from the office, and rushed to our side,
And we listened carefully before we signed.
Then I heard her exclaim, with a SOLD sign in sight,
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night!"

Copyright 2007.  Margaret Woda.  All rights reserved.

Homestead for the Holidays is a magical place in Davidsonville, Maryland, that seems to attract as many visitors on a winter weekend as it does a busy Spring day during planting season.

Your children can visit Santa at Homestead Gardens on Saturdays, 10-4, or Sundays, noon-4.  Or they can watch the trains any day - there are even benches and tables nearby, along with a refreshment stand.

Homestead nursery plants are always the highest quality, and they have a beautiful selection of everything from colorful poinsettia plants to houseplants to holiday wreathes and greens.  During the holidays, however, the entire place turns into a magical holiday wonderland, with visitors from any corner of the D.C. - Baltimore area, as well as Anne Arundel County. 

For another post about Homestead Gardens by my friend, Martha Brown, check out her post.  'Guess there's some truth to the saying that "great minds think alike."

Are you familiar with the official White House Christmas ornaments?  They've been sold by the White House Historical Association since 1981, but I didn't become aware of them until 2003.  My daughter bought one for herself that year, and some as gifts - I fell in love with the little boy on a rocking horse, an ornament honoring President Ullysses S. Grant and his family. 

(To see any of the ornaments or other products for sale in the Museum Shop, you'll have to click on that link because their photos are copyright and they denied a request to use them.  Kinda silly, since it would be free advertising for them and I have nothing to gain from promoting their Museum Shop... But those are the rules!)

I had toyed with the idea of building a collection of ornaments for each of my grandchildren, one that they could have as grown-ups.  If they don't really like that style of decoration, at least they'll have something of value that they can sell or save for their children.  Besides, from a purely practical perspective, they come in a flat box and would be easy to store!

I went on the website to purchase back ornaments from the year of each child's birth, and I've gotten them every year since.  Til now. 

Ornaments are still available from 1998-2007, but they're out of stock for 2008.  I wonder if they cut back on production or if there was a higher demand this year...

The Northern Virginia Chapter of Alpha Sigma Tau sorority sells them as fundraisers, as do several other organizations...  If you know anyone who still has them available, please let me know.  I need five to keep the collections intact.

If you're new to the Greater Crofton area, I should warn you that this community is one that Santa visits each year during the weeks before Christmas, That's right!  Santa has his list, and now he'll be checking it twice as he visits Cedar Grove and the G, U, W, T, A and S sections of Crofton tonight. 

It will be a busy week for Santa as he works at the North Pole all day and then heads to Crofton, in Anne Arundel County Maryland, after 7 p.m. to find out who's naughty and nice.

Tuesday - The R, J, K, H, F, E, D streets of Crofton, Layton Street, Crofton Commons, Carlyle Drive, Pleasant Meadow, Courts of Crofton, and the Orchards.

Wednesday - Nantucket, Johns Hopkins Road, Chelmsford, Charing Cross, Keswick Apts, Highlands, Seton Woods, Riedel Road and Crofton Mews.

Thursday - Hallmark Woods, Hermitage, Lavall, Cheval Trails, Lake of the Pines, Huntington Woods, Mt. Tabor Road and Woodbridge.

Friday - Chapman Farms, Walden and Crofton Meadows.

Saturday - Annapolis Preserve, Eagles Passages, Gravely, Penderbrooke, and St. Stephens Church Road.

Firemen will be polishing their truck today so they can give Santa a ride in style, and they usually sound their siren, so you'll know they're coming when they drive through your neighborhood.  When you heear it, grab the kids and run to the window or go outside and wave...  As they pass my house tonight, I'll try to get a picture to post here for any of you who don't believe.

P.S. - The schedule could change if the firemen have to use their truck to go fight a fire. 

Gingerbread houses, that is...  Gingerbread house cookies, to be exact.

I just couldn't resist the title, even if it is a little hokey!

The first cookie request came from Tawes Garden in Historic Annapolis for their holiday event, a poinsettia, fresh greens and cookie sale December 11 and 12 - 3-4 dozen cookies, please...

Then there was Hammond Harwood House, another historic Annapolis site, which is all decked out for their holiday event December 10-14 - 3-4 dozen cookies, please...

Of course, there's the Crofton Holiday House Tour on December 13, 4 dozen cookies, please...

(Who came up with this magical figure of four dozen?)

And then there's my office - nibblies for a dozen people for our holiday party...

If my math is correct, that brings us to more than 12 dozen decorated cookies BEFORE I make any for my mother, brother's family, children's families...

Making that volume of cookies requires some compromises, however - just one kind of cookie dough, no colored frosting, no fancy cake-decorating techniques.  This is mass production, baby!  They'll probably be mixed with cookies from other people, providing plenty of color and variety.   And, if I'm going to spend that amount of time making cookies, at least these will serve as a subtle reminder that I'm a real estate lady.  

The inspiration came a few weeks ago, as Cindy Jones and I were talking about a post she had written titled Lake Ridge-Avoiding the Cookie Cutter Home Syndrome (LOCALISM FEATURED). She was saying that she had trouble finding a picture of a house-shaped cookie cutter to use as an image in her post - the rest is history.  

Maybe after the house tour is over tomorrow, I can think about making some fancier cookies for the family.  After all, I have a reputation to uphold.  Anyone who has known me for a while remembers the days when I sold more gingerbread houses than real houses - They were pretty elaborate, and I got $100 for them back in the 70's.  My individually wrapped large decorated gingerbread Santas sold for $1 each.  If I'd had any idea the real estate market would still be dragging in December, I would've started building Gingerbread houses months ago to sell in December. 

I would say "Maybe next year" but hopefully the market will be back and any baking I do will be for donating to community groups, not selling.

P.S. - If you want your own house-shaped cookie cutter, check out this eBay store.

There are not a lot of new home communities on Fort Meade's doorstep, but there are plenty nearby.

Since builders make it so easy for you to walk in and purchase directly from them, home buyers often are not aware that it cost no more to be represented by a real estate professional in their home purchase.   When I'm sitting in a builder's model with clients, I often have a million questions that my client never thought to ask.  And, as the builder's representative goes through the multi-page contract, I sometimes interrupt to ask my clients "Do you understand what that means?" and offer a more detailed explanation.

As you prepare for your first house-hunting trip to Maryland, I know you'll want to check out the new home communities online, as well as resale listings and established neighborhoods.  That's why I put together this list for you, including links to the builder's website:

$200,000-$400,000

• Tanyard Springs - Townhomes, Glen Burnie
• Stony Run - Townhomes, Hanover
• Villages of Dorchester - Townhomes, Hanover
• Admirals View - Townhomes, Annapolis

$400,000-$600,000

• The Residences at Park Place  - Condos, Annapolis
• Colonial Woods - Detached Homes, Severn
• Arundel Preserve - The Enclave - Townhomes, Hanover
• Grandview - Condos, Annapolis
• Heron Cove - Detached Homes, Edgewater

This barely touches the surface, but it will get you started in your online research.  There are many others, including more expensive homes and over-55 communities, which are not included here.  However, I tried to focus on new home communities that are most likely to appeal to civilian and military personnel relocating to Fort Meade. 

When you arrive in Maryland for your first house-hunting trip, be sure to meet with your agent before visiting new home communities.  You agent will be familiar with them, their locations, and the builder's reputation - information which may help you decide which communities meet your goals.  Remember, if you go on your own, your agent will not be able to look out for your best interest in the purchase.

A few years ago, one of my relocating clients did exactly that - she and her father sat down without me to buy a home from a builder whose reputation was less than stellar among local real estate agents.  At the walk-through, she found that the floor in her master bath was not level - dramatically so - and there had been a plumbing leak which soaked the living room carpet. 

She was nearly hysterical when she contacted me for help in resolving these issues before settlement, but I was unable to step in and negotiate a resolution because I had not represented her in this home purchase.  Builders worry far less about one "upset" buyer than they do about a whole real estate office or company talking negatively about them, so chances are I could have used that to help the buyer obtain satisfaction.

In today's economic climate, there are many "good deals" for homebuyers, both resale and new construction.  Most builders and individual homeowners in this area will accept VA financing and even pay some of your closng costs, so there's a good chance you can get into a home with no money out of pocket, or very little.

So, if you're relocating to Fort Meade and want to check out communities nearby, check out the new home communities listed above and the homesearch links on my blog, www.FocusOnCrofton.com

If you missed this post, here's another chance to learn a valuable lesson the EASY way - by simply reading about it.  No one wants to open their mail and find out their interest rate went up 15-20% overnight.

Just three months and one day ago, I posted They Love Me After All - and it Feels So Good! after taking a new listing.  Today, we went to settlement.

To get the whole story, you can read the earlier post or, by way of brief background, the sellers were former clients who strayed from my fold for a while.  They finally listed their home with me after 254 days on the market with a relative. 

During those 8 months, property values dropped continually and inventory kept growing.  Not a single person viewed the property, and the sellers did their own staging and marketing when their agent didn't get results.

On the other hand, I put together a quality brochure, posted several blogs about the property and community, created a real estate show, generated showings, and (drum roll please) represented them in negotiations when a contract came in - the same month our entire economy crashed.  The selling price is almost 25% lower than the likely selling price of nearly a year ago - that's $80,000+. 

Who says it doesn't matter which agent you choose, that all real estate agents are alike? 

'Twas December 1, and all through the community, everyone was stirring to get ready for Christmas...

Little elves (members of the Crofton Village Garden Club) scurried around the community, decorating light poles, the Front Gate, schools and the Crofton Library with holiday wreathes.

.

The Garden Club finished in plenty of time for evening festivities in front of Crofton Country Club at 6:30, where a record-breaking crowd gathered for a sing-along, the Christmas Tree lighting and Santa's arrival on the top of a fire truck.

You can see that my granddaughter, Megan, was pretty excited when she saw Santa atop the firetruck.  That's my husband, holding on to her so she doesn't run right over there.

Then, she and her brother Matthew finally got a turn to sit on Santa's lap.  Matthew gave Sants his wish-list first, and then Megan had her turn.

For future holiday events in and around Crofton, be sure to visit my earlier blog post, Holiday Events Beyond Fort Meade Gates.